Air bag system for rear seat center occupant protection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9688232-B1
Application number	US-201615090632-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Apr 5, 2016
Priority date	Apr 5, 2016
Publication date	Jun 27, 2017
Grant date	Jun 27, 2017

Abstract

An airbag system for use in a passenger vehicle includes a first airbag and a second airbag and a first airbag module. The first airbag module is shaped for mounting in a first front seatback and includes a first bracket, a first airbag in a deflated condition disposed in the bracket, and an inflator connected to the airbag. The first airbag in an inflated condition is sized to span a gap between the first front seatback and a second front seatback. A second airbag in a deflated condition is included as part of one of the first airbag module and a second airbag module. The second airbag in an inflated condition overlays the first airbag on one of a forward side and a rearward side.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An airbag system for use in a passenger vehicle comprising:
a first airbag module shaped for mounting in a first front seatback and including a first bracket, a first airbag in a deflated condition being disposed in the bracket, and an inflator being connected to the airbag;
the first airbag in an inflated condition sized to span a gap between the first front seatback and a second front seatback with the seatbacks; and
a second airbag in a deflated condition being included as part of one of the first airbag module and a second airbag module with the second airbag in an inflated condition overlaying the first airbag on one of a forward side and a rearward side.

2. The airbag system of claim 1 , wherein the second airbag is fixed to the first airbag in both the deflated condition and the inflated condition.

3. The airbag system of claim 2 , wherein in the inflated condition the second airbag is disposed on the forward side of the first airbag and is sized to fit between the seatbacks.

4. The airbag system of claim 3 , wherein the first and second airbags are integrated into a single airbag.

5. The airbag system of claim 4 , wherein the first airbag in the inflated condition is sized to cover the gap for substantially an entire vertical height of backs of the seatbacks above a console.

6. The airbag system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second airbags are substantially separate.

7. The airbag system of claim 6 , wherein the second airbag in the deflated condition is disposed in the second airbag module.

8. The airbag system of claim 7 , wherein in an inflated condition the second airbag is disposed on the rearward side of the first airbag and is sized to extend across substantially the entire gap between the two seatbacks.

9. The airbag system of claim 8 , wherein in the inflated condition, the second airbag module inflates to a lower pressure than the first airbag.

10. The airbag system of claim 7 wherein the airbag modules are shaped for mounting in a common seatback and the airbags are shaped for cooperative deployment from the common seatback.

11. The airbag system of claim 10 wherein the first airbag includes:
a first transverse member,
a lower transverse member with the transverse members extending across the gap in the inflated condition, and
a vertical connecting member disposed between and fluidly connecting the transverse members with the connecting member being substantially centered between the seatbacks.

12. The airbag system of claim 11 wherein the second airbag includes:
a first vertical member and a second vertical member with each extending substantially in parallel with the vertical connecting member in the inflated condition, and
a transverse connecting member extending and fluidly connecting the vertical members and sized to extend from the second module bracket to the other seatback.

13. The airbag system of claim 7 wherein the second airbag module is shaped for mounting in a second seatback and the airbags are shaped for cooperative deployment from the respective seatbacks.

14. The airbag system of claim 13 wherein the first airbag includes:
an first transverse member, and
a lower transverse member with the transverse members extending across the gap, and
a vertical connecting member disposed between and fluidly connecting the transverse members with the connecting member being substantially centered between the seatbacks.

15. The airbag system of claim 13 wherein the second airbag includes:
a first vertical member and a second vertical member with each extending substantially in parallel with the vertical connecting member, and
a transverse connecting member extending and fluidly connecting the vertical members and sized to extend from the second module bracket to the other seatback.

16. An airbag system for use in a passenger vehicle comprising:
a first airbag module shaped for mounting in a first front seatback and including a first bracket, a first airbag in a deflated condition being disposed in the bracket, and a first inflator connected to the airbag, and the first airbag in an inflated condition sized to span a gap between the first front seatback and a second front seatback with the seatbacks;
a second airbag module shaped for mounting in a second front seatback and including a second bracket, a second airbag in a deflated condition being disposed in the bracket, and a second inflator connected to the airbag, and the second airbag in an inflated condition overlaying the first airbag on a rearward side.

17. The airbag system of claim 16 , wherein in an inflated condition the second airbag is sized to extend across substantially the entire gap between the two seatbacks.

18. The airbag system of claim 17 , wherein in the inflated condition, the second airbag module inflates to a lower pressure than the first airbag.

19. The airbag system of claim 16 wherein the first airbag includes:
an first transverse member, and
a lower transverse member with the transverse members extending across the gap, and
a vertical connecting member disposed between and fluidly connecting the transverse members with the connecting member being substantially centered between the seatbacks.

20. The airbag system of claim 16 wherein the second airbag includes:
a first vertical member and a second vertical member with each extending substantially in parallel with the vertical connecting member, and
a transverse connecting member extending and fluidly connecting the vertical members and sized to extend from the second module bracket to the other seatback.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Loew Pattrick

Classifications

• B60R21/233

  comprising a plurality of individual compartments; comprising two or more bag-like members, one within the other (B60R21/232 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60R2021/23107

  the bag being integrated in a multi-bag system · CPC title

• B60R2021/23153

  specially adapted for rear seat passengers · CPC title

• B60R21/207 Primary

  in vehicle seats · CPC title

• B60R21/20

  Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components · CPC title